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Florida's Turnpike

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Florida's Turnpike (also called the Florida Turnpike) is a toll road that runs 265 miles or 426 kilometers down the Florida peninsula through 11 counties, from Interstate 75 at Wildwood, to near Miami. It runs through Orlando, where it crosses Interstate 4; and West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, where it parallels Interstate 95, often literally next to it. The Homestead Extension (HEFT) runs from north of Miami down through the western suburbs, to near Homestead. The original Turnpike is known internally as SR 91 and the HEFT is known as SR 821.

The first 110 miles (177km) from Golden Glades to Fort Pierce opened in 1957 as the Sunshine State Parkway, under the former Florida State Turnpike Authority. The second section from Fort Pierce to Wildwood, was finished in 1964. The 47-mile (76km) Homestead Extension was completed in 1974.

Tolls on the turnpike are set at 6¢ per mile (about 3¾¢ per kilometer) for two-axle vehicles, and are lifted when it is being used for a hurricane evacuation route. Payment is via coins and SunPass electronic toll collection near the urban and suburban areas of Miami and Orlando, and via ticket the rest of the way (south of Kissimmee and north of Lantana).

The system is operated at a significant profit for the state, which then uses the money for other road projects. Management is by the Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, part of the Florida Department of Transportation.

Exits on the highway are on the mile-log system. The Turnpike started using this system long before Florida's interstate highways were on the system, but originally used a sequential system, and then a hybrid where adjacent exit numbers differed by 4 south of SR 60 (exit 60 at the time) and 5 north of SR 60. Rest areas (called service plazas on the turnpike) also have these "exit" numbers. Motorist-aid call boxes are located on both outside shoulders of the road every mile, and send only a signal indicating the need for gasoline, repair (tire or engine), or emergency services (police, ambulance, or firefighters).

Service plazas are open 24 hours per day, most having Burger King and TCBY fast food. Other services include Internet access, travel and tourism info and tickets, picnic areas, TV news, Florida Lottery, and of course restrooms and public phones. SunPass transponders are available at all locations.

In 1998, the Florida Legislature designated the turnpike the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, after the 40th U.S. President. However, this designation did not replace the turnpike's existing name, only appearing on a few signs along the route.

Interchanges

  • US 1 (SR 5) south - Key West southbound only
  • 1 US 1 (SR 5) north - Florida City southbound only
  • 2 Campbell Dr - Homestead southbound only
  • 5 SW 288th St/Biscayne Dr
  • 6 SW 137th Ave/Speedway Blvd southbound only
  • 9 SR 989 - SW 112th Ave
  • Homestead Toll Plaza
  • 11 Cutler Ridge Blvd/SW 216th St
  • 12 Cutler Ridge Blvd/Caribbean Blvd/SW 200th St
  • 13 SR 994 - Quail Roost Dr/Eureka Dr
  • 16 SR 992 - SW 152nd St/SW 117th Ave
  • 17 SR 874 to SR 826 - Miami northbound only
  • 19 SW 120th St
  • Snapper Creek Service Plaza
  • 20 SR 94 - SW 88th St/Kendall Dr
  • Bird Road Toll Plaza
  • 23 SR 976 - SW 40th St
  • 25 US 41 (SR 90) - SW 8th St
  • 26A SR 836 east - Miami International Airport/NW 107th Ave
  • 26B NW 12th St
  • 29 NW 41st St
  • Okeechobee Toll Plaza
  • 34 NW 106th St/Gran Park Blvd
  • 35 US 27 (SR 25) - Okeechobee Rd
  • 39 I-75 (SR 93) - Naples northbound only
  • 43 SR 823 - Red Rd/NW 57th Ave
  • Miramar Toll Plaza southbound only
  • 47 SR 817 - University Dr north/NW 27th Ave south

end Homestead Extension

note: 267A and 267B are switched southbound

Interchanges on the spur towards Miami

This was part of the original Turnpike, bypassed when the Homestead Extension was built.

Other roads

The turnpike system also extends to several other toll roads in the state:

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